OP2409-20-2 After Action Report

OP2409-20-2
Transcript:

OP2409-20-2
Following last week's operation (OP2409-13-2) in Cham, commander Chernarus 43rd Mountain Rifle Corps ordered a multivectored combat operation in the eastern Cham region. The operational unit involved was 2nd Battalion, Chernarus 20th Separate Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, a task force consisting of two T-72 tanks, two T-55 tanks with desant troops, and two T-34 also with tank riders.

For this operation two Su-25 ground interdiction fighters were employed, as were two Mi-24 gunships.

Three villages in the Eastern Cham region were recently taken over by separatist forces: Rannersdorf, Albernhof, and Hirshhof. In that region, separatists had been detaining and kidnapping individuals, preparing them for evacuation to the north. Intelligence said that one bus load of civilians traveling through Hirshhof, was waylaid, its passengers disembarked, and shot to death. Those victims were part of separatist's criminal activity, including human trafficking, and human organ harvesting.

In Rannersdorf, the tactical plan to capture the village was for one T-72 tank, one BRDM scout car, along with Command Squad and 2nd Squad penetrating the separatist's defensive structure. Command Squad encountered Russian interior ministry special operations elements. Command Squad shifted to the east and entered the village and encountered Serbian regulars.

One T-72 tank and one BRDM scout car were deployed to the west, with orders to engage and destroy any enemy vehicle approaching from that direction.

Once Rannersdorf was cleared, enemy counterattacks took place involving Russian naval infantry special forces and more Serbian regulars. These, along with other enemy infantry attacking from the west were driven back. 3rd Squad on its own initiative, began to attack to the west towards Albernhof, but were stopped by enemy vehicles counterattacking along the road leading to Rannersdorf.

Once Rannersdorf was captured, operations continued towards Albernhof, where Command Squad and remnants of 2nd Squad attacked. Command Squad encountered Serbian regulars and one enemy T-55 tank which was impeding the advance of our forces. The tank was destroyed by infantry antitank means. Enemy counterattacks had arrived by that time including Serbian regulars attacking from the west and naval infantry special forces attacking from the north.

These attacks put the task force in a severe crossfire, pushing Command Squad back into the village, where Command Squad lost its coms. 2nd Squad temporarily took command of the task force and assisted Command Squad in reestablishing its coms, enabling the task force to fight off enemy counterattacks.

In Hirschhof, the tactical plan was for all three remaining rifle squads, with cover from the remaining tanks to attack across the river north into town. The advancement to the village went very quickly. Task Force commander was able to locate and eliminate the two civilian criminal command operatives. Commander then located where approximately 18 civilians, all unarmed, were killed, presumably by local militia.

Battalion operation staff deemed the operation complete, ordering the task force to withdraw south and in good order.

Casualties were very heavy. 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad were wiped out, as was Reinforcing Rifle Squad 1. Reinforcing Rifle Squad 2 lost two. Both Mi-24 gunship were shot down, and Scout 1 BRDM was destroyed.

Field counts of enemy losses included five BMPs, three T-55 tanks, three BRDM scout cars, one BTR, one UAV, and one T-34 tank.

Even though losses were very nearly catastrophic, battalion command staffs concluded the operation a complete success. In the propaganda sphere, by finding and recording the murdered civilians, and seizing intelligence matter from the two civilian criminal command operatives, it could be shown that the separatist activities were not merely military but were in fact criminal.

This operation was also a success in that the mechanized cavalry regiment was able to destroy large amounts of enemy vehicles, including heavy tracked vehicles. The Cham region is quite likely not to be the site of new operations for several weeks.